Editing Approach of the Demon Meteorite

{{episode|
|series=headmasters
|ep=6
|title="Approach of the Demon Meteorite"
|japanese=悪魔の隕石接近
|romaji=Akuma no Inseki Sekkin
|translation=
|image=Demonmeteor.jpg
|caption=Proto-[[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]]?
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|writer=[[Keisuke Fujikawa]]
|director=[[Katsutoshi Sasaki]]
|animation studio=Toei
|airdate=[[August 7]], [[1987]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Galvatron sends a metal-warping meteor on a collision course with Cybertron, and only Daniel can save the day.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HM6 warped Aerialbots.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Whoa, Air Raid! Like, what was in that energon we picked up at that last outpost, man? This is, like, really trippy!]]
As the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] pilot a survey vessel back to [[Earth]], they cross paths with a [[Metamorphose|mysterious glowing meteor]] that causes their craft to warp and twist out of shape. Alarmed, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] deploys the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] as a rescue team.

On [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is overjoyed at the success of their new weapon, and plots to use it again the [[Autobot]] base on [[Athenia]]. When the [[Decepticon]]s detect that the Technobots have been sent out, Galvatron has them alert the Decepticons on Earth. [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] are sent out to obstruct the Technobots, and Cyclonus reveals that the meteor—named [[Metamorphose]] by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]—is a Decepticon creation.

[[File:Hm6 Rollbar chomp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Second worst thing to happen to Rollbar in this episode.]]
The Autobots on Athenia send out the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]] to destroy the meteor. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and the others are glad it wasn't heading for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], though [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] frets what will happen if the meteor reaches Athenia. The Headmasters reach the meteor and open fire, but everything they throw at it is deflected away. Fortress reports back to Rodimus, who tells him to observe the meteor.

Galvatron and the Decepticon Headmasters arrive on Earth where [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] reports Cyclonus's current success in interfering with the Autobots. They're attacked by the [[Throttlebot]]s, who immediately tangle with the Headmasters and come off decidedly second best. Galvatron, Scourge and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s head off and join Cyclonus. While Galvatron is gloating to the Technobots, Battleship Maximus suddenly hoves into view overhead and disgorges the Autobot Headmasters. The Decepticon Headmasters, having defeated the Throttlebots, also turn up, and a battle begins to rage.

Meanwhile, a ship launches from the Autobot's base on Earth—the Throttlebots, having played dead, have instead decided to sneak off in an [[Autobot frigate]] to try and deal with the meteor themselves, even ignoring an order to turn back from Rodimus. [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] and [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] jump out to attack the meteor, but the meteor's gravity field warps both them and the ship.

[[File:Hm6 unexplained injuries.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I'm sorry, Daniel, but we can't do the [[Kimi wa Transformer|ending credits]] scene any more. I am ''not'' a Transformer.]]
Realising that stopping Metamorphose will require a non-metallic agent, the Autobots request that one of their human allies plant bombs on the meteorite, but [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] is still recovering from wounds recently sustained in battle, and [[Marissa Faireborn]] of the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] is too busy to go. The Autobots are reluctant to expose Daniel to danger, and the boy runs to see his father. When Spike learns of the situation, he's determined to go, despite Daniel and [[Carly]]'s protests. Fortunately the other Autobots think it's a bad idea as well, and Daniel announces that he will go instead.

On Earth, the Autobots and Decepticons are still shooting at each other. The Headmasters are called away back to Athenia and depart in Battleship Maximus while [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] keeps Galvatron and his men distracted.

[[File:Hm6 fortmax funnyfaces.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|It was this exact moment when we realized this series made Daniel even more annoying.]]
Daniel is suited up in a non-metallic spacesuit and is briefed by Spike before he and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] head out to catch a ride on Battleship Maximus. Partway there they encounter Galvatron and the Decepticon Headmasters, and the Autobot Headmasters bar Fortress jump out to handle them. Daniel gets cold feet, but Fortress calms the boy with an impromptu bit of {{w|gurning}}. Fortress prepares to leave Wheelie in charge of the ship so he can go attack the meteor, but Daniel is now happy enough to make the attempt himself. Jumping off onto the meteor, Daniel is shot at by one of the metal-warping guns—it has no effect on him, but he's able to ride it inside. Successfully disabling the gravity emitters using the controls, he then plants a bomb before jumping overboard. The meteor explodes and Galvatron furiously retreats. Back on Athenia, Daniel is hailed as a hero.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (1)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (2)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (3)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (4)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (5)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (12)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (13)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (14)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (15)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (16)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (23)
* [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (24)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (25)
* [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (26)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (28)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] (29)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] (30)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (31)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (32)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (33)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]] (35)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (36)
* [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (37)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (38)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (39)
* [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (8)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (9)
* [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] (10)
* [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] (11)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (17)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (18)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (19)
* [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]] (20)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (21)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (22)
* [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (34)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (40)
|c3=
*  [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]]  (27)
*  [[Carly]] (43)
*  [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (44)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As the Aerialbots' ship is approaching Earth, it passes by several objects that are drawn to look like planets but are not much larger than their ship.
* When first assessing the threat of the meteorite, Jazz is missing his insignia.
* As the Headmasters and Wheelie toss Daniel in the air, Wheelie is the same size as the Headmasters.
* In the Omni Productions dub, after the line "But then again, the universe is endless, the might be a rogue in here" someone laughs in the audio.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:HM6 Throttlebots approach meteorite.jpg|right|thumb|"Here's the plan: we do nothing."<br>"Yup. It's another world-beater!"]]

* The Throttlebots ''really'' look like they die in this episode, but they turn up okay later in the series. It's unclear if they were retrieved and repaired, or if they managed to recover and retreat like the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]].
* The [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s make their first of two appearances in the ''Headmasters''
* This is the first ''The Headmasters'' episode to feature fewer than 50 characters.

===Transformers references===
* Although she doesn't appear in the episode, or at any point during ''Headmasters'', Daniel suggests [[Marissa Faireborn]], who last appeared in "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", as a possible candidate for the mission.

===Trivia===
* Daniel sure regresses mentally in this episode. He bawls like a colicky two-year-old, complete with flailing fists in the air as Fortress holds him like he's got a full diaper (like Daniel has the full diaper, not Fortress), and Fortress makes silly faces to make him (Daniel) laugh. It's ''embarrassing'', and the sad thing is, it won't be the [[Hot Shot (Armada)|last]] [[Conspiracy|time]].
*Note how no-one even suggests that Carly - Spike's [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|daring]], [[Blaster Blues|intelligent]] wife who once [[The Immobilizer|infiltrated a Decepticon base on her own]] - could go on the mission to the meteor. Instead it's straight to sending the whiny pre-teen kid to save everyone.
* Galvatron is a really terrible shot. As the Autobot Headmasters retreat, he can't land a single shot even ''near'' the enormous <s>city</s> building-sized Battleship Maximus directly in front of him.
* It's rather considerate of Galvatron to design the controls for the gravity emitter to be not just human-height but ''pre-teen'' human height.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''The Evil Meteor''''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 16]], [[1992]]


:*''Title:'' "'''Approach of the Demon Meteorite'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::*The title is misspelled as "Approach of the Demon Metorite" in the DVD menu.
::*The meteorite is named "Metamorphosis" in Shout! Factory's subtitles, as opposed to "Metamorpho" in [[Metrodome]]'s subtitles and the original "Metamorphose" name.


'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Èmó Yǔnshí Jiējìn'''" (恶魔陨石接近, "Approach of the Demon Meteorite")


'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zloveschy Meteorit'''" (Зловещий метеорит, "The Ominous Meteorite")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il coraggio di Daniel'''" ("Daniel's courage")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|omni}}
;Laserdisc
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1996 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Takara'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) — Omni dub only.<br>
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Headmasters'' — DVD Box ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.<br>
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — ''Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Metrodome]])<br>
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome)<br>
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers: Headmasters'' ([[Madman Entertainment]])<br>
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)<br>
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Transformers Japanese Collection: Headmasters'' ([[Shout! Factory]]) — Japanese audio with optional English subtitles only.<br>
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2012 — ''Transformers: The Japanese Collection'' (Shout! Factory) — Japanese audio with optional English subtitles only.


[[Category:The Headmasters episodes]]